TOKYO -- August is a month of mourning in Japan. It is a time to commemorate the end of World War II and remember the millions who perished. Thirty years ago, another tragedy left an indelible mark on the nation's psyche: the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123.
On Aug. 12, 1985, shortly after takeoff, the plane suffered an explosive decompression that led to a loss of control. The Boeing 747 crashed into Mount Osutaka, north of Tokyo, killing 520. It remains the world's deadliest crash involving a single aircraft.
